AIM: To explore protective effects of curcumin on high glucose concentration induced rhesus choroido-retinal endothelial cell(RF/6A)damage.

METHODS: RF/6A was randomly assigned into 4 groups(n=6/group): Control group(CONT group, DMEM+10% FBS), high glucose concentration group(HGC group, DMEM+10% FBS+40mmol/L glucose), curcumin group(CUR group, DMEM+10% FBS+30μmol/L curcumin)and curcumin-glucose group(C-G group, DMEM+10% FBS+40mmol/L glucose+30μmol/L curcumin). Five days later, cells were observed with microscope, and cell viability was detected by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT). Moreover, agarose gel electrophoresis was introduced to investigate DNA ladder in each group. We also detected expression of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α).

RESULTS: Compared with CONT group, cell viability in HGC group was decreased(P<0.01), showing no obvious difference in CUR or C-G groups(P>0.05). HGC group presented obvious DNA ladder, while no ladder was observed in CONT, CUR or C-G group. Furthermore, compared with CONT group, TNF-α was up-regulated in HGC group(P<0.01), and no difference was detected in CUR group or C-G group(P>0.05).

CONCLUSION: Curcumin attenuates high glucose concentration induced RF/6A apoptosis, maintaining cell viability, which may result from reversing HGC-induced up-regulation of TNF-α.